Parker, Ginobili proud after Big 3 ties Laker legends

Even though he was only six when they won their last championship, Tony Parker says he remembers the fabled Showtime Lakers. For Manu Ginobili, growing up in Argentina with no easy access to the NBA, his introduction would not come until their run — and running — was done.

Now part of NBA history themselves, both expressed a combination of pride and honor to have tied, along with Tim Duncan, L.A.’s core of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper for second on the NBA’s all-time list among trios with 490 career victories after their 103-90 conquest of Portland on Wednesday.

Only Boston’s trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish won more games together, with 540 from 1980 to 1992.

The Spurs’ Big Three also tied the Lakers group for third on the all-time list with 663 joint appearances, trailing only the Celtics (729) and Detroit’s Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson (711).

“It’s unbelievable,” Parker said. “It has been a great run. It has been special and I have been blessed to play with Timmy and Manu. To be named with Magic, Kareem and Michael Cooper when I grew up watching them, I never thought in my wildest dreams my name would be next to them.”

“It’s remarkable,” Ginobili said. “We’re not thinking about that, and I guess we’re going to win a few more. But even if you didn’t tell me that stat, we know we are in a very unique position. Having played together for 12 seasons with the same coach, it doesn’t happen very often. Very grateful with each other, the organization, the city, the fans, everything, to have an opportunity like this.”

Tim Duncan was not available for comment after Wednesday’s game.

For head coach Gregg Popovich, their most impressive achievement might have been surviving his coaching. Even he admits to taking the group for granted at times.

“They have gone through listening to me for all those years,” he said. “One does have to stop and really think about what they have meant to our program and how consistent those three guys have been because it does not happen that often in the league. We all need to appreciate it a lot more, for sure.”

Perhaps fittingly, Duncan/Parker/Ginobili can take sole possession of first Friday against the Lakers.

Further details of their long-standing partnership:

* Duncan and Popovich continue to add to their record for a player-coach tandem with 886 career victories. Their 17 seasons together is another record.

* Duncan and Parker have won 630 games together, third most among duos behind Parish and McHale (656) and John Stockton and Karl Malone (906).